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LaughFest 2014 drew a crowd of 1,675 people in downtown Grand Rapids to break the world record for most people wearing sunglasses at night. Photo via fb.com

Gilda’s LaughFest unofficially broke another world record Thursday night.

The fourth annual festival of laughter kicked off Thursday with an effort to break the world record for most people wearing sunglasses at night.

Participants received official bright yellow LaughFest sunglasses.

The group counted that 1,675 people wore sunglasses, said Tyler Lecceadone, a LaughFest spokesperson.

Guinness World Records said the previous mark was set in July 2012 by 1,642 people at Chicago's Wrigley Field.

"We had a seriously fun time at this year's world-record attempt," said Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s LaughFest and Gilda's Club Grand Rapids. "It was the perfect kickoff to the 2014 festival. We thank all of the participants who came out and donned sunglasses to help us break the world record. "

Gilda's LaughFest runs through March 16.

All proceeds from LaughFest benefit Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that provides free cancer and grief support services.

Record breakers

Gilda's LaughFest organizers have overseen record-setting attempts in the past three years for donning false mustaches, wearing chicken beaks and tossing rubber chickens.

In 2013, 1,532 people at LaughFest put on false mustaches to set the Guinness World Record for the most people wearing fake mustaches at a single venue.

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